Chelsea 2-1 Leicester City: 5 talking points as Foxes blow UCL hopes?

2. VAR luck runs out

In the first half, the Blues, roared on by 8,000 vociferous fans, laid siege to the Foxes goal with 11 attempts to Leicester’s one. This performance brought back memories of the first half of Leicester’s last trip to the Bridge, despite the Foxes putting out a much better second-half display last time than they did yesterday.

After benefitting from two (clear and obvious) VAR calls in Leicester’s favour, as well as somehow avoiding conceding a penalty, it was hoped Rodgers would rejuvenate the team at half-time.

Whilst the Champions League finalists have been prone to profligacy, there was only so much the Foxes could ride their luck against a side oozing with quality.

If anything, Leicester started the second period in an even worse fashion than before, and at this level, such inconsistencies are punished by the top sides.

3. Rodgers’ tactical errors

Brendan Rodgers is a superb manager, no one doubts that. Yet, he has a weakness of seemingly refusing to change things early enough, when it is clear they aren’t working.

Setting up in a 3-4-3 to match Tuchel’s system was logical in theory but by five minutes, it was clear that such a set-up would only lead to disaster; with Chelsea swarming all over the Foxes like angry wasps. Playing an unfamiliar formation against opposition coached specifically to use this system led to overloads, especially down Leicester’s left-hand side.

The selection of a single striker left Vardy isolated in attack, whilst Maddison and Peréz were largely ineffective playing on the wing. Yes, the goals were the result of individual errors rather than tactics, but LCFC struggled to get any kind of grip on the game due to the set-up of the team.

Unsurprisingly, the introduction of Iheanacho and Pereira changed the game, but this should have happened much earlier and is an aggravatingly common theme.

Having said this, it’s easy for us fans to criticise the boss, with the benefit of hindsight, but the decision-making process on the touchline is never that easy, and that is something most supporters can never fully understand.